Bissell Helps You Handle Pet Fur, and More!

January 4, 2010 By: Alison Blackman AdviceSisters

You’ve just gotten an adorable puppy or kitten for Christmas….awwwwww!

As adorable as pets are, they also leave a little gift for you everywhere they go…-pet hair. Gobs and gobs of it. You can (and should) brush your pet regularly, but still, the hair will show up in tufts and clumps that stick to your clothes and your couch.

…And, (how can I say this politely), dogs and cats have a nasty habit of vomiting food and hair, too, usually on your favorite couch or prized Persian rug. I have been a cat lover (and fur “mom”) for decades, so I know. If you have a cat or dog that sheds a lot, or if you have more than one furry friend in your house, you’re going to have pet hair, everywhere. Luckily, Bissell has some tools to help your handle fur, and other things you don’t want all over your home.

I admit I was dubious when I saw these at the Product-n-Press holiday showcase a few months back. I’ve tried a lot of pet hair removal, (and odor/stain) removal, products. Most do work to some degree, but not as thoroughly as I’d like. I was more hopeful with the Bissell tools, because the company is so well regarded for both vacuums, and rug cleaning products.

The Bissell Universal Pet Hair Vacuum Tools srp. $29.99 arrives in a boxed set, with two essential items you can attach to any existing vacuum: a Pet Contour Tool® featuring a pink, rubberized top with little “fingers” that bend and flex to reach where hair collects (e.g. in crevices) so it’s perfect for upholstery, stairs and car interiors, and a 6” wide Pet Turbobrush® that has rotating brushes with rubber fingers that works amazingly well on rugs, chairs, beds and sofas. If you let your cats sleep on your blanket (we can’t actually stop ours) you need this tool! Both tools include adapters to fit all major vacuums. The turbobrush did pick up cat hair, but you need to “scrub” back and forth quite a bit (the tool works best on area rugs), and many vacuums are sold with attachments similar to this one. But the Pet Contour Tool performed better than most in pickup up fur that gets “embedded” into fabric. No amount of sticky tape, regular vacuuming, or other hand-held tools gets this fur out, once it’s worked it’s way into your comforters, couches, or the crevices of furniture. I tried it on a blanket that my cats like to snooze on, and that no amount of cleaning really gets rid of all the fur. The Pet Contour Tool grabbed even the stickiest fur bits and pulled them right into the brush and into the vacuum. It takes a bit of effort to use, but the result is (finally!) fur-free fabrics! The little rubbery “fingers” really lift hair out so you can finally sit on your fabrics without getting up looking like a Yeti!

I can’t speak for dogs (I’m truly a cat person 100%) but I haven’t ever met a cat that didn’t like to vomit on the thing you prize the most, especially if it’s white or ivory. There are two Bissell Cat Stain and Odor Removers in spray pump bottles (there are also formulas just for dogs). The Enzyme Action Cleaner gets to the base of troublesome stains resulting from urine, feces, blood, and vomit. The Oxygen Active Cleaner permanently removes tough pet stains and may be used on carpeting, upholstery, and pet beds or on any water-safe surface. The cost is under $13.00 for a 22 oz. bottle, and having both of these, at the ready, in your under-the-sink cabinet might give you a fighting chance to get rid of the stain and the odor. The Oxygen Active formula removes tough cat stains — even those colored by dyes in pet food. Most importantly, it’s non-toxic for your pets and your kids. Bissell’s patented odor technology discourages pets from re-soiling areas, although mine still gravitate back to the places they know…and (sigh!) love.

These are super-easy to use. Just remove “solid” particles (e.g. hairballs) or excess liquid. Shake the bottle of product well, and saturate the soiled area, as well as surrounding area. Let the product sit for 5-10 minutes to penetrate stain. Then all you have to do is blot with a dry, color-safe towel to lift the stain and absorb as much of the remaining solution as possible. Rinse and repeat as needed and stay off the cleaned area until it’s dry.

It’s easy and effective. That’s the good news. The not so good news is that powerful odor eaters and cleansers cannot be used on absolutely every fabric. These are not recommended for use on velvet, silk, vinyl, or leather upholstery. So my advice if you’re new to being a fur mommy or daddy is to cover that priceless silk throw grandma brought back from China with plastic, or better yet, put it away or out of reach, until you know your pet’s habits.

For more information on these products and others like it, and how to order, Visit the Bissell Web Site

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